The Best of "Best Book" Lists

The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.

If I Was Your Girl

by Meredith Russo

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, Relationships, Depression / Suicide, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Meredith Russo’s 2016 young adult novel, If I Was Your Girl, focuses on the experiences of Amanda, an 18-year-old trans girl going through her senior year in a new school.A few critics point out what Russo herself acknowledges in an author’s note that follows the text: the novel glosses over some of the obstacles faced by most trans teens—the protagonist has no issues passing, is able to get gender-confirming surgery at a very young age... Read If I Was Your Girl Summary

If We Were Villains

by M. L. Rio

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read If We Were Villains Summary

If You Forget Me

by Pablo Neruda

Publication year 1952

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Relationships

... Read If You Forget Me Summary

I Have Some Questions for You

by Rebecca Makkai

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Class

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read I Have Some Questions for You Summary

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

by Casey McQuiston

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Romance, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read I Kissed Shara Wheeler Summary

I Know This Much Is True

by Wally Lamb

Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery

Tags Mental Illness, Psychological Fiction

Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much Is True centers on the illness of Thomas Birdsey, a middle-aged man who has had schizophrenia for the previous 20 years. Narrated by Thomas’s twin brother, Dominick, the novel opens with Thomas having left the group home where he lives and him cutting off his hand with a knife he took from his stepfather’s weapon collection. Thomas performs this action after reading a Bible verse that commands the reader... Read I Know This Much Is True Summary

I'm Glad My Mom Died

by Jennette McCurdy

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, Biography, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

... Read I'm Glad My Mom Died Summary

Impossible Subjects

by Mae M. Ngai

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: U.S., Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, Politics / Government

... Read Impossible Subjects Summary

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

by Iain Reid

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Mental Illness, Depression / Suicide, Philosophy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

In his 2016 psychological thriller I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Iain Reid writes about the struggles of depression, social anxiety, and loneliness. Jake, a former physics postdoctoral student and avid writer, works as a janitor in a rural high school. As he contemplates suicide, Jake fictionalizes his memories into a story with characters who represent different aspects of his identity as a way to help him make his decision. In addition to this narrative, Reid... Read I'm Thinking of Ending Things Summary

In an Instant

by Suzanne Redfearn

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Romance, Survival Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure

... Read In an Instant Summary

Incantation

by Alice Hoffman

Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Jewish Literature, Romance, History: World, Religion / Spirituality

... Read Incantation Summary

Inferno

by Dan Brown

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Globalization, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Arts / Culture, Science / Nature, History: European, Renaissance, Italian Literature, Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure

Inferno by Dan Brown is the fourth installment in Brown’s Robert Langdon series of mystery/thriller novels, following (in order) Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, and The Lost Symbol, and preceding Origin. Each edition covers a self-contained story, so readers need not follow the series in order, and often includes themes centered on European and Christian history and cultural traditions. The title character, Robert Langdon, is the only recurring character. Inferno won the Goodreads... Read Inferno Summary

Infinite Country

by Patricia Engel

Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mythology, Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Relationships, American Literature, Latin American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction

... Read Infinite Country Summary

Infinite Jest

by David Foster Wallace

Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Satire, Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Humor, Post Modernism, American Literature, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Sports

Infinite Jest is a fiction novel by David Foster Wallace. First published in 1996, the novel has an unconventional narrative structure with hundreds of extensive footnotes. Exploring themes of addiction, alienation, and the plight of modern existence, Infinite Jest is famous for its complexity and humor. The novel has been praised by critics and heralded as one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. This guide was written using the 2014 Abacus... Read Infinite Jest Summary